April 28, 2014
Drug law change needs treatment funding
The Maori Party’s Te Tai Hauauru candidate is welcoming a move to take synthetic drugs off the market.
The Government intends to change the law so that psychoactive drugs can no longer be sold while they are awaiting certification that they are safe.
Chris McKenzie says too many whanau have been coping with the effects of living with addicted family members.
He says the change needs to be accompanied by more resourcing of agencies like the New Zealand Drug Foundation who treat and support addicts, many of whom face the prospect of sudden withdrawal after May 8.
Mr McKenzie says the change is a credit to those in the community who have fought for action, such as Tokoroa woman Julie King who organized the recent national day of action.
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